rokubiraijuu

(...) Naomi's magic casts a bright flash as it strikes the archer head on. Cheat Sheet:

Fallon's dark magic strikes the archer at point blank, staggering him badly. Cheat Sheet:

Unfortunately, Seymore's hatchet swings wide, and the archer is able to duck out of the way, retaliating with an arrow to the rib. The soldier, already on his last legs, is put out of his misery. "How dare you try to overwhelm one of us by sheer numbers. Face me next." Move to M14 and attack Soldier 3, Canto to M11. Cheat Sheet:

[ ENEMY PHASE ] Archer 4 to M12 and attack Kerr. The bowman comes out of the trees and advances, but Kerr sees his incoming approach and evades the arrow that clips by him. Soldier 3 to M13 and attack Kerr. (...) Soldier 1 to N12 and attack Kerr. Stepping out of the trees, the spearman lands another blow on Kerr. Winded, he just manages to retaliate, both heavily injured. Fighter 2 to Q7 and attack Dulcibella. The axeman launches a surprise attack on Dulcibella from the cover of trees. Not seeing him quickly enough, she takes a heavy blow from his axe and is felled from her horse. Archer 2 to Q6. Knight 5 to D10 and attack Flynn. Knight 6 to E11 and attack WV1. Knight 7 to D11. Knight 8 to B12. [ ALLY PHASE ] "It's working!" Watching his brother go toe-to-toe with one of the enemy knights and come out unscathed gives him a boost of courage. "Don't forget the plan! We just have to hold them off until everyone gets to safety! Don't overdo it!" Turn 4 Cheat Sheet:

On my end, I accept both Beatrix/Cassidy (C) and Beatrix/Aidan (C).

The two archers exchange shots, their arrows whizzing through the darkness. (...) Cheat Sheet:

A bright flash of Naomi's light magic stuns the archer, causing him to stagger back. Cheat Sheet:

A clean strike from Seymore's hatchet downs the spellcaster, opening the path across the stream. Cheat Sheet:

Thanks to the cover of the trees, the soldier manages to evade Ceridwen's strike. He tries to retaliate, but Ynddi's scales prove too tough. Fallon's blast of dark magic staggers the spearman. Off to the east, Rhian's arrow is answered by another fireball, each hitting their mark. "Fallon!" The shadow of Idriss' massive wings descends over the canopy, blanketing both the shaman and the soldier in its width. "On your left!" Move to N14 and attack Soldier 4. Distracted by Fallon, the soldier doesn't see her coming, and the darkness of nightfall conceals Idriss' approach. Thankfully, his end his merciful; he doesn't even have a moment to feel fear before the axe's edge cleaves downward with the momentum of Idriss' weight, crushing through armor and killing him instantly. With some difficulty, Johanna pulls her weapon from the fallen corpse, letting out a breath. She can't help but look a little pleased with herself; when Fallon had known her, she'd still been working on a pulling off a maneuver like that. Cheat Sheet:

Undeterred by the trees, the knight manages to duel Seymore at close range; however, the earlier wounds inflicted by Michi's spells are enough to weaken him, and one last axe blow fells him. [ ENEMY PHASE ] With a rustle of foliage, the scout emerges from the trees. "General! We're being attacked! It looks like only a handful, sir, but they're well-armed and trained." "...We knew it would come to this." Though there seems to be a hint of resignation to his voice, the General doesn't seem daunted. "Now is the time. Tell the other knights to move." "Sir!" As the scout rushes off again, this time to the south past the village, Kiba exhales heavily through his nose. "Forgive me, Maria, Klaus. I hope you never have to know me for this act." Mage 1 to S10 and attack Rhian. The armored archer takes a fireball that singes her plate. Archer 1 to P9. Soldier 1 to O12 and attack Argos. Approaching from the north, one of the spearmen strikes at Argos. He manages to counter effectively despite the injuries though, and both come away with notable wounds. Soldier 4 to N13 and attack Argos. A clean strike from another spearman from the east brings Argos to his knees. Further west, having received the order to move out from the deployed scout, a unit of armored knights appears and begins to march north down the pathway towards the village under the cover of night. Spotting the approaching line of lumbering shadows, the boy at the head of the assortment of villagers defending their home tightens his grip about his sword. "Hey! Hey, out there at the tree-line-- I see movement! I see movement in the trees!" he shouts, waving an arm in gesture before hastily drawing his own blade. Hah, if those tin-can fools were stupid enough to try and attack the men of the Warriors Village, they'd be sorely reminded real soon of why that was a bad idea. "Let's get 'em, Flynn!" a younger voice chirps out from behind him. His grip on his sword is a little less practiced and confident than the other's, but he makes do, and makes up for it with quite a bit of exuberance to conceal the underlying current of nervousness. "We'll show 'em what we're made of!" MAJOR VICTORY (OPTIONAL) : At least half the villagers remain standing. Turn 3 Cheat Sheet:

From the cover of trees, Michi launches two fireballs that strike the knight head-on. However, he proves surprisingly deft with a javelin and manages to land a blow in retaliation despite the cover. Cheat Sheet:

Even semi-distracted, Ceridwen's strike is true, and she brings down the mage in one blow. (...) Cheat Sheet:

Whether it's Argos' declaration or his boldness, the mage is caught off guard enough for him to land the first strike. However, the spellcaster is quick to retaliate, and manages to evade Argos' second blow, leaving them both worse for wear. Cheat Sheet:

Fallon's menacing words prelude a blast of dark magic that knocks the knight off his feet. His javelin manages to pierce the shaman's defenses, but a second spell knocks him down. Cheat Sheet:

Here they come, she thinks to herself, gripping the handle of her axe tighter and steeling herself for the impact. Attack Knight 3 and Canto to P12. Despite his size, Idriss proves rather adept at evading the knight's javelin, allowing his rider to land two solid strikes of steel on plate before swooping off towards the north over the creek. Cheat Sheet:

[ ENEMY PHASE ] Having picked up the sound of rustling in the trees beyond the stream, the archer perks up from his watch. It's when he spots the faint outline of thick, plated armor in the shadows that he stands up straight and raises an arm, whistling shrilly -- a piercing sound that signals danger to his comrades. "Who goes there!" "Tch, Kirov's dogs caught up to us." "Form up and defend the bridges! Hold out until the General secures the village!" Archer 1 attacks Tree Stump. Mage 1 to S8 and attack Tree Stump. Knight 2 to S10 and attacks Kerr. Knight 1 to W10 and attacks Dulcibella. Knight 3 to Q13 and attack Argos. Mage 2 to N13. Soldier 1 to O8. Fighter 2 to Q6. Turn 2 Argos recovers 2 HP. Cheat Sheet:

"...!!" Searching the area for a strategic place to move to, Johanna pretends like she hadn't heard Rhian's comment. It'd seemed rhetorical, anyway, but she couldn't help but wonder if the knight thought she wasn't doing her job well enough. Beneath her, Idriss rumbles deep in his chest and leans his head forward, tugging on the reins. She can feel his powerful muscles shifting under his scales. "Right. First thing's first." There was plenty of time to worry later. Move to R13.

The battle goes on, though they seem to have cleared out most of the immediate threats around them. "Still have it in you, friend?" he murmurs, urging Kite into a gallop. The stallion tosses his head before picking up the pace, as though offended at the suggestion. Moves to R16 and shoot Mage 2 with Iron Bow.

CHAPTER 1 : That Which Binds UsSolis Y3302, Midsummer Since disembarking from the boat onto the Lorimar side of the Liukan river, the shade of thick trees have granted some reprieve from the sweltering midsummer sun. The party have been traveling mostly by early morning and by cover of darkness to avoid losing too much energy to the heat, but also to avoid being sighted by the group they're pursuing. Boots crunch through the foliage underfoot, and conversation is sparse as they proceed deeper into the dense woods of one of Caliss' most seldom-ventured areas. As a small, elite unit, they'd been the ideal candidates for this kind of job. It wouldn't draw too much attention from the public like dispatching the Calissian army would, causing alarm and possibly planting ideas in others' heads. "According to the map, we're drawing close to the borders of the Warriors Village," Johanna announces as quietly as possible to the others. "Keep your eyes peeled." Not that anyone knew much about the Warriors Village. There was little of it documented, even though from time to time, skilled swordsmen have been known to show up hailing from there, taking part on their 'Journey to Manhood' that the place was known for. But apart from being respected for its strong fighters, the place is rather obscure. They've never been known to cause trouble, and few go out of their way to visit it. It is an enclave all its own, with a lifestyle all its own. Being sent to a place like this... ----- A couple weeks earlier... After a few last days of relaxation in Antei following the mock battle, the Allied Guard were called to assemble in the foyer of the mayor's home, where they were given their first true assignment. Johanna hadn't really known what to expect, but she hadn't thought it would be something like this right off the bat. "There's been a breakout from Soniere Prison to the southwest. Many of the criminals who escaped were Imperials from the Liberation War, so it's likely that this was planned. We're to pursue and apprehend them before they disturb the populace. I'm sure you can all imagine what may happen if these people find a way to seize power again. These aren't just your regular vagabonds and petty thieves; many of them are soldiers who fought on Barbarossa's side during the war, and they're being led by former General Kiba Windamier, who was highly decorated in the time of the Empire. But as the Allied Guard, we'll help defend the new Republic that both the Knights and Caliss built together." ... Reports indicate the criminals have already crossed the Liukan River into the Lorimar Region, which is heavily forested. No doubt they're trying to hide there until they can formulate a plan. We'll stop them before that happens." ----- Before long, Johanna draws them to a stop. Distant sounds ahead and signs of freshly trampled vegetation suggest that they've caught up. So far, it looks like they haven't been spotted yet among the trees. "Just across the stream, probably," she murmurs to those closest by, nodding to the babbling brook that cuts through the forest floor a little ways ahead. Shadows shroud the underbrush under the cover of nightfall, and the whole forest seems more alive, or maybe that's just the adrenaline. "There's a bridge over there... and it looks like there's another one through those trees. Everyone, let's try to find the leader and apprehend them. Something tells me that if their leader falls, we'll have a better chance of putting a stop to this. And remember to stay on guard. There's a village nearby, and we don't know if any of them may have gotten mixed up in this." VICTORY: Defeat Boss DEFEAT: All Player Units are Defeated Turn 1 Cheat Sheet:

For a few seconds, Johanna just stares at him... And then she huffs softly, the small smile returning to her face. "Thank you. I know you mean well." Part of her wishes she could say more, but this isn't like back home among the other Knights, or the couple of them she could call friends. It's true, she's hasn't even been a commander for a year, but she's learned enough about it to know what a good one does. If her men are already starting to think the position is getting to her after just one mock battle, then she has a lot she still needs to work on. That figures. "Nothing's off, though. I've always been a bit reserved, so I was just looking for a spot to relax. I didn't think how someone else might see that... but you sound like you really like to talk to others and get to know them. That's a good thing too. If you become a commander one day, maybe that'll be your own style."

"Don't forget to take care of yourself too, you know," Futch says what he hopes is reassuringly -- he hadn't meant to upset her that much. "Your dragon'll be on his own too if he loses you. No sense in that." And it was fairly well-documented that most dragons that lost their riders tended to go mad with grief after a period of time, even if they were released into the caverns or, in the case of those too heavily injured to survive on their own, taken in and cared for as veterans. There were all too many accounts of those who had suffered too long and too much having to be mercifully put to death to prevent further injury to themselves and others. "Oh. Now that I'm mentioning it... I think this should help you." Reaching into his pocket, Futch draws out a small ring on the end of a thin chain, and hands it to Ceridwen. "You can keep it, or maybe figure out who else in the Guard could put it to good use. It's supposed to offer just a bit of extra protection, maybe enough to take the edge off magic." [ Ceridwen receives ELEMENT RING. ] ---------- Johanna doesn't answer that for a long time, chewing slowly, though the bread has lost its taste in her mouth. Though Argos had clarified that he wasn't trying to undermine her authority, she can't help but wonder if they don't feel that she's up to the task. She'd done her best to put on her most professional performance during the battle, as her father and others had taught her, but what if they could see right through it? I can't let any of them see that. They'll never believe in me if they know. "I was picked to serve as Acting Commander," she replies, pleased that she sounds more assured than she feels. "It's an honor, especially since I'm still learning to lead. But if I do well, and if you all approve of me after the next few months, then I will be instated to the position permanently." She decides to leave out that her father had chosen her for the role explicitly to test her; she doesn't want to give Argos the idea that he'd made the decision out of bias.

Johanna's smile is a little more genuine this time, but also somewhat wistful, and it's fleeting. "That's definitely one way to think about it. I, um, wish you luck." Is that why he had joined the Allied Guard? Other officials had done the vetting and interview process for those who'd expressed interest; had he been one of those who'd stood in front of the panel and told them these goals? Or was he one of those who'd been hand-picked? Though she knows she shouldn't judge one of her own men, it's hard to imagine how a rustic Goyan swordsman would have made it over the many Knights she knows had applied. Then again, his father was a Knight. Catching herself in the midst of too much speculation, she takes another bite of her loaf of bread. ---------- Futch's eyes soften to see her and her dragon's close relationship. "That's good. I didn't understand the importance of that early enough, and paid for it." Seeing that Sharon's gone off to get more food from the cart, he pulls a string necklace from within his tunic and dangles it up, showing Ceridwen the single coal-black scale gleaming like conchoidal obsidian in the sunlight. "All I was able to keep." He tucks it back, then gives a what-can-you-do kind of smile. "Some good of it came in the end, though, I guess, but... I'm not your mentor, but learn from my mistakes, yeah?"

"That always seems to be the case," Futch replies wryly. "There were no shortage of oddballs in the armies I fought with, too. As long as they're reliable and can do what they're told, that's all that matters." "You should get Futch to tell you all of his stories about the lands up north. Ooh, what about that delusional mage lady you met in Alma Kinan, huh, huh??" "She wasn't delusional, Sharon. ...Probably. Anyway, that's stuff for another time." He turns back to Ceridwen. "Oh, and speaking of other Dragon Knights and things... make sure you take care of him," he says, indicating Yn Ddidderol nearby. "I know we're always saying 'a line of Knights is a bastion' and all that, but all it takes is one hit, sometimes, even for a dragon. Be careful, especially around magic." ---------- "I think that rings a bell," she replies with a small nod. She does recognize the name; she's never met him, but that's not uncommon, especially if he spends much of his time around the borders of the mountain. The swell of admiration in Argos' voice deepens the guilt in her gut. Although... part of her can't help but be curious. "Does... your father -- I mean, he's okay with what you're doing? Not being a Knight?" She asks the last part carefully, mindful of not upsetting him further.

"...Keep an open mind," Futch replies after a moment of thought. "As soon as you think you've seen it all, something or someone will surprise you. As long as you're of the mind that there's always something you can learn from whatever's in front of you, rather than thinking you know best, you should be fine." He laughs softly, giving Bright a fond scratch on the bottom of his chin. "Got to admit, it feels strange to be the one giving advice all of a sudden. As for it being overwhelming... there's not much I can help you with that. It's going to be a lot to take in no matter what, I think. Just have to go with it. At least you're not alone. Do you trust your allies? The rest of the Guard?" ---------- Oh, so he was that kind of person... "Oh, hehe..." Johanna's somewhat nervous laughter falls flat at her feet, and she quickly redirects the conversation to something he'd said that'd piqued her interest rather than dwell on the depressing fact that, if he hadn't formed a bond with a dragon by now, there was very little chance of him having a shot at the Knighthood even if something extraordinary should happen. "So your father was a Dragon Knight?" She can't remember if that had been in the files. That would explain his eagerness to be one himself, and his disappointment at not being chosen. It was always especially heartbreaking when someone wasn't able to carry on their parents' vocation like that, she thought. She couldn't imagine how she'd feel if Idriss hadn't hatched for her. Would her father even see her as a worthy daughter if she weren't a Knight?

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sharon fires back, though with a less biting tone this time. "I might be an apprentice, but it's not like I haven't fought for real before. I'm gonna be the best Knight ever, and make mom proud." Half of this is muttered under her breath, but clearly audible enough for both Futch and Ceridwen to hear it. "Gareth... yeah. To be honest, it's still an honor to be of his rank now. He still feels like a superior, but I guess that's true for anyone who's met him." Futch huffs with laughter at her next comment. "The world is a strange place, definitely..." He trails off for a moment, looking out past her head as though to some other place and time. It's not secret knowledge that Futch is an anomaly among the Dragon Knights -- though he'd been gone and back before Ceridwen had even started her apprenticeship, he is still known throughout the Hold as one of the inestimably small handful who have come back after being exiled. "And let me tell you: once you've seen it, it's the Hold that feels strange." ---------- A smile softens the edges of the nervousness rather evident on Johanna's face at that, and she brushes the backs of her fingers thoughtlessly over Idriss' throat, feeling the rumble of his aggression travel through her hand. "He was... believe it or not. First gift he left me with." She holds out her other arm for Argos to see the old puncture scar of at the base of her palm, dangerously close to her wrist. At it, Idriss stops growling momentarily to huff -- a loud, rough sound from his snout, before rustling his wings: the dragon's equivalent of an eye roll. "You're Goyan, right?" she asks, knowing it from his clothing and accent, and of course what she had seen on file of each of the soldiers. It's always been hard for her to talk to and connect with the people there... for one, she had never come from the village, and so lacked that first point of crucial connection that seemed to bind together riders who had been born there. And knowing that him being here without a dragon of his own meant that he was one of the many who had been disappointed year after year. She never knows how to handle that. "You're, um, a pretty good fighter."